Lawrence Preston Joseph Graves

Lawrence Preston Joseph Graves (May 4, 1916 – January 15, 1994) served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport in Louisiana (1976-1982).

He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock in Arkansas (1969-1973) and as bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria (1973 -1976) Lawrence Graves was born on May 4, 1916, in Texarkana, Arkansas.

He attended the St. John Home Mission Seminary in Little Rock, Arkansas.

He then studied at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, and at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Graves was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Little Rock on June 11, 1942.

[1] During his tenure, Graves established or improved continuing education for priests, offices for religious education and youth ministry, permanent diaconate program, and the communications apostolate in newspaper, radio, and television.